MEET THE BOARD
KAITLIN HANNON | PRESIDENT
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Kaitlin Hannon is a Civil Engineer with the County of Los Angeles Public Works currently focusing on Equity in Infrastructure. Prior to her time on the Equity Team, Kaitlin worked in the water/environmental sector for over 10 years, starting with Kenneth/Jenks Consultants in 2010 and moved to Los Angeles County in 2013, with a brief period at URS in between. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineer from Syracuse University and her Masters in Public Administration from California State University at Northridge. She has held many positions with ASCE LA YMF and enjoys now serving on the MLAB Board. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, cooking, hiking, and exploring LA.
BENJAMIN BAKER | PAST-PRESIDENT
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Benjamin Baker, P.E., is currently a Senior Civil Project Engineer with Gannett Fleming working as a design lead on Metro East San Fernando Valley roadway utility relocations. Previously, Benjamin was an assistant project manager with Walsh Group on Los Angeles County Metro's Crenshaw/LAX Corridor K Line rail transit project, where worked for over eight years, part of the time as Segment C Civil Manager. In the past he has also worked as a project engineer in the civil division at KPFF Consulting Engineers, as an intern at the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering (Bridge Improvement Division), and as a utilities engineer in the Rail Transit and Crossings Branch at the California Public Utilities Commission. He has a Master's of Science in Civil Engineering and Project Management from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor's of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCLA. He has been involved with ASCE since 2006, including as a former officer and project manager for the UCLA student chapter, where he serves as Practitioner Advisor.
OPEN | PRESIDENT-ELECT​
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SEEKING QUALIFIED NOMINATIONS.
METEHAN GUMUSTEKIN | VICE PRESIDENT
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Metehan Gumustekin is an experienced civil engineer with a demonstrated background in the field of water/wastewater, transportation, and project management/construction management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. He is currently working as an Associate Civil Engineer at TKE Engineering, Inc. Prior to joining TKE, he was an Engineer I in the Municipal Infrastructure Group at AECOM. He was also employed in the Public Works division of the City of San Diego as an intern, and the Engineering Services Group of the Metropolitan Water District as a private consultant. He has developed leadership and organizational skills through active involvement in some of the recognized engineering organizations such as ASCE, APWA and Chi Epsilon. Outside of work, he is very interested learning, reading and researching about many different topics. Metehan loves to travel and meet new people. He is a registered Engineer-in-Training in the State of California, and he is currently working on obtaining his P.E License.
MATTHEW JACOBSON | TREASURER​
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Matthew Jacobson, EIT, ENV SP, A.M.ASCE is a Civil Analyst with Kimley-Horn, in downtown Los Angeles working on development services and transportation projects across California. He has worked on projects through data collection, design, and construction documents. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona in 2021. Matthew is now involved locally with ASCE LA YMF, ASCE LA Branch and serves nationally on the ASCE Committee on Younger Members and ASCE Committee on Governing Documents with the Society-Level ASCE. In his free time, Matthew enjoys running, photography, camping, and music festivals.
FELIPE VAZQUEZ | SECRETARY
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Felipe Vazquez, PE, is a project manager in the surface water team at Michael Baker International. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. He started his ASCE involvement by serving as president and treasurer of the ASCE West Tennessee Branch Younger Member Board. He currently sits on the board of the ASCE Committee on Younger Members. His hobbies include weight training, traveling, live music and spending time with friends and family.
HANK FUNG | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CO-CHAIR
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Hank Fung is a senior civil engineer at Los Anglees County Public Works overseeing environmental planning for the County's transportation projects. Previous to this position, he did roadway design, project management, coordination with Caltrans and helped manage the County's $300+ million transportation budget. He started with the County in 2003 in the County's transit operations section assisting with the management of the unincorporated County shuttle system and bus stops. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 2003 and Cal Poly Pomona with a master's in public administration from Cal Poly Pomona. In his free time Hank enjoys traveling, playing craps and poker, and cheering on the Cal Bears.
ANDREW SLUSSER | HIGH SCHOOL BRIDGE CONTEST CHAIR
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Andrew Slusser is a Civil Engineering Associate with the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering. He received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cal State Northridge. He works in collaborative environments, coordinating with external partners for the design, construction, and delivery of City projects and private developments. He has experience working in plan-check at the West LA District Office, in the design of street and pedestrian improvement projects at the Street Improvement Division, and managed construction at the Hyperion Treatment Plant. Andrew is currently expediting plan reviews of utility relocations and street improvements, in support of LA Metro's mass transit project.
JONATHAN ONTIVEROS | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CO-CHAIR
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Jonathan Ontiveros is a Civil Engineering Assistant with the County of Los Angeles Public Works, assigned to the Waterworks Division since 2023. Jonathan has over 8+ years of combined experience in Land Development and Geotechnical Engineering, starting with Geocon West, Inc. in 2015 and later joining the City of Santa Clarita in 2019. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineer from California State University, Northridge, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Jonathan has previously served on the board for ASCE LA YMF and looks forward to serving as part of the MLAB team. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children, traveling, and exploring national parks.
ROYA FALAHATI | AWARDS CHAIR
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Roya Falahati is an Engineer in City of Pasadena Public Works, managing Capital Improvement. In her previous positions in public sectors, such as County of Los Angeles, she gained experiences in traffic design and transportation safety enhancements projects, as well as seeking funding by applying for Federal or State grants. Roya holds dual licenses in California, as PE and TE. Academically, she graduated from California Polytechnic-Pomona with a master’s degree in civil engineering. Her passions include volunteering in cultural organizations and STEAM to talk with K-12 students about careers in careers in STEAM. In her free time, Roya hikes in local hiking trails, plays sports, and when possible, she travels to new places as she believes visiting other cities and countires has helped her as an engineer.
GEORGE MOLINA | MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
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George Molina attended UCLA for undergraduate and graduate studies, earning his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in civil engineering. While attending UCLA, he interned at the City of Stanton and then secured a position with the County of Los Angeles as a student engineer. Upon graduation, George accepted a full time position with the County of Los Angeles Geotechnical, Materails and Engineering Division as a Civil Engineering Asistant. During his six-year tenure with GMED he has obtained his professional civil engineering license, and has risen to the level of Associate Civil Engineer. George is responsible for the review of a wide range of projects, design of internal County projects, and interfacing with other jurisdictions that outsource engineering review to GMED. George enjoys trail running, hiking, and listening to audiobooks.
KAREN MENDEZ | CO-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
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Karen Mendez is an Associate Civil Engineer with Los Angeles County Public Works’ Geotechnical and Materials Engineering Division where she has had the opportunity to work on complex projects that have a direct impact on communities throughout Los Angeles County. She earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from California State Northridge. Previous work experience includes flood maintenance, where she saw, firsthand, the County’s proactive approach to providing service when needed the most. In her free time Karen enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, walking her dog, and participating in sporting activities. Karen looks forward to serving on the MLAB Board.
LEILA KHALKHALI | CO-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
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Leila Khalkhali is currently a Transportation Engineer working at California Department of Transportation District 7. Leila has experience working at Division of Corridor Management, Design and Planning- project and special studies. Previously, Leila has worked for several large consulting firms such as URS, Fugro, Leighton Consulting and Petra Geosciences. Leila has also worked as Geotechnical engineer on bridge design and bridge widening projects, such as pre-design for high speed rails. She has a Master's of Science in Civil-Geotechnical Engineering from Michigan State University. She has been involved with ASCE since 2007, including as a former K-12 outreach committee member serving as a panelist for school and university outreach events.
SAM POTTS | YMF LIAISON
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Sam is a Project Engineer in the Transportation Engineering group at MNS Engineers, Inc. He takes pride in designing more livable and sustainable streets for a variety of local communities. Sam graduated from California State University, Northridge where he first joined ASCE during his freshman year. Outside of ASCE, Sam enjoys volunteering as a music educator, biking, and spending time with friends.
DANA ROBERTSON | NEWSLETTER EDITOR
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Dana Robertson is an Associate Civil Engineer at Los Angeles County Public Works where he does structural design and performs bridge load ratings. He graduated with both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Cal Poly Pomona. He has previous work experience in stormwater planning, road maintenance, and traffic design. Dana has also recently been appointed to serve on the Traffic and Transportation Commission for the City of Buena Park. Dana enjoys playing with his young daughter, reading, exercising, and riding transit.
EMELINA NOVOA | HISTORIAN
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Emelina Novoa, E.I.T., ENV SP is a Senior Civil Engineering Assistant at Los Angeles County Public Works working in the Operational Services Division. Under this role she works with Traffic Operations and Electrical Section (TOES) which is primarily responsible for providing traffic signal operations and maintenance, traffic signs, traffic striping, and pavement markings installations and maintenance for the unincorporated areas of the County and numerous contract cities. She also provides professional support services for the Section's and Department's Operations, including electrical and civil engineering. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount Univeristy in 2010 and is currenly attending California State Univeristy at Northridge for her Masters in Public Administration. In her free time Emelina enjoys spending time with her kids exploring Los Angeles. She enjoys hiking and running.
